Notice

Stream 3 - Interoperable Demand Side Response programme: questions with responses

Updated 17 January 2023

This page covers responses to Competition clarification questions received for Stream 3 of the Interoperable Demand Side Response (IDSR) Programme.

1. General

1.1. Will the Interoperable Demand Side Response Programme Information Event session be recorded and available to listen to again?

The event was not recorded. However, the slides can be found on the Interoperable Demand Side Response webpage.

1.2. Will the How to Apply information event content be shared more broadly beyond the webinar?

The How to Apply information event recording and slides can be found on the Flexibility Innovation Programme webpage.

1.3 What is the output of a feasibility study? Is it just a written report or does it require some development to prove the technical feasibility?

The key deliverable of Stream 3 will be a feasibility report. All deliverables required for Stream 3 can be found in Section 2 – Competition Deliverables of the Stream 3 Competition Guidance Notes.

2. Scope

2.1. How does BEIS envision this programme aligning with PAS 1879, and Smart Charge Point Regulations Phase 1 (30 June) and Phase 2 - in development?

Alignment to the principles of PAS 1879 is a requirement of the Stream 1 competition. Aspects of the Streams 2 and 3 competitions will require alignment to the principles of PAS 1879. Please see the relevant requirements in the corresponding Competition Guidance Notes for more detail on each Stream’s competition requirements. The Smart Charge Point Regulations are part of a wider policy area, please refer to the regulations for further details.

2.2. Are there other codes/standards that this programme will consider beyond PAS 1879? BSC code modification P375 (‘Metering behind the Boundary Point’) is going live shortly and is accompanied by metering Code of Practise (CoP11) which are needed for settle distributed flexibility in the Balancing Mechanism.

The standards in scope of the programme are PAS 1878, PAS 1879 and the Standalone Auxiliary Proportional Controller (SAPC) smart metering specification. The programme does not require demonstration of other standards, such as CoP 11, or other requirements not in scope of these standards.

Energy smart appliances (ESAs) will also need to meet all over-arching relevant regulations (for example, product safety, radio equipment) (Streams 1 and 2). It is for ESA manufacturers to determine which standards/codes/ etc. they need to use to meet these obligations.

For further details on requirements for all Streams please refer to the corresponding requirements/specifications section in the relevant Competition Guidance Notes.

2.3. Are we envisioning that this demand side response (DSR) would be implemented by Distribution Network Operators (DNO)/ Distribution System Operators (DSO) given the focus on grid stability? If so, is there regulatory changes which are being considered to facilitate DNO based DSR, and or is there a particular framing expected of the projects?

PAS 1878 does not cover the deployment and functional configuration of the wider DSR environment (for example, communication between DSRSP and Transmission System Operator (TSO/DSOs), which is out of scope of this Programme.

For DSR systems built using the GB smart metering system technical framework (Stream 2), the connections between the SAPC, ESA, Data Communication Company (DCC) and DCC User are in scope.

3. Eligibility

3.1. Is Stream 3 only eligible for small businesses because it is funded by the small business initiative?

The Competition funding for Stream 3 will be awarded using the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) approach.

Stream 3 is available for a business of any size, however, please refer to Section 5.1 – Competition Eligibility Criteria, point 10 - Applicant and Project Team Composition in the Competition Guidance Notes for further details regarding eligibility.

To note, eligibility criteria for Streams 1, 2 and 3 will vary and is available in the corresponding Competition Guidance Notes.

3.2. Is the competition open to non-UK domiciled companies?

Yes, however over 50% of the Project’s activities (as measured by eligible Project costs) must be conducted in the UK.

Please refer to Section 5 – Eligibility for Funding in the corresponding Competition Guidance Notes.

3.3. Are collaborative applications required or just encouraged?

This should be considered appropriately based on the needs of the application.

For Stream 3, please refer to Section 5 – Eligibility for Funding for further information on collaborative applications.

Whilst there are expectations outlined in the guidance, collaborative applications are not a mandatory requirement for any of the Competition streams.

4. Funding

4.1. What evidence needs to be submitted regarding labour costs? Would it be time sheets and rate sheets for all time spent on the project, or is anything further required?

Please refer to Appendix 3 (Stream 3) - Completion of Cost Breakdown Form within the corresponding Competition Guidance Notes for clarity on evidence required.